Grandson of William Randolph Hearst dead at 84

[RayKelly]

From the Daily Mail

The billionaire grandson of the legendary media tycoon William Randolph Hearst, who was believed to be the inspiration for Orson Welles' film 'Citizen Kane', died yesterday following a stroke.

George Randolph Hearst Junior, 84, had been the chairman of the media conglomerate built up by his late grandfather since 1996. He had also been a director of the company for over forty years.

Hearst Corporation owns 15 daily newspapers, as well as a huge variety of magazines, including Cosmopolitan and Esquire. The empire traces its roots back to when William Randolph Hearst first took over the San Francisco Examiner in 1887.

Read more at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2164820/Grandson-media-titan-Randolph-Hearst-dies-stroke-aged-84.html#ixzz1yxOaV1Yn

[Roger Ryan]

I can only wonder what W.R. Hearst would have thought of the fact that CITIZEN KANE would still be mentioned in the opening paragraph of his grandson's obituary! The suggestion that the film has ensured "cult status" for Hearst is a little silly as is the notion that Hearst was only able to enjoy his palatial estate for a "short time" since it was completed the year of his death (despite being technically incomplete, Hearst utilized the estate for thirty years).

[Glenn Anders]

Ray, Roger: Back in the early 1960's, not long after Hearst Castle was opened to the public as a California State Park, I interviewed for a position as a docent there. My credentials were praised in correspondence, and I went down to the Castle for an interview. A panel of four State officials and a member of the Hearst Family put questions to me. Representing the Family was George Randolph Hearst, Jr. Everything went very well until, at his turn, George Hearst asked: "And tell me, sir, do you believe that your presentation and guidance will have any political aspect?"

Always honest to a fault, I replied, "How could there not be? Just the affiliation of Hearst Castle with Orson Welles' Xanadu in CITIZEN KANE is bound to raise political interest. I should think that would be a primary appeal to visitors here."

A shadow fell across Mr. Hearst's sunny face. He thanked me for such a frank and interesting reaction.

Several weeks later, I received a letter informing me that I had not made the cut but that my name would be placed on the substitute list. Eventually, my name did come up, but by that time, I was too involved in teaching activities.

And so, I can attest that, twenty years after the release of CITIZEN KANE, ten years after the death of William Randolph Hearst, Xanadu may still have been of concern to the Hearsts.

Glenn

[Roger Ryan]

Glenn - Thanks for sharing that story! I know that I mentioned before that when I toured Hearst Castle in 1990, the words "Welles", "Kane" or "Xanadu" were not once uttered by the tour guide. When I inquired about Welles' famous film and how the Hearst family now saw it in relation to W.R. I was given a curt, dismissive answer (something to the effect that it was fictional and had nothing to do with the real Hearst). My understanding is that the Hearst Castle custodians have since loosened up about KANE, probably because it has remained a lasting advertisement for the attraction.